THE competitive world of leek-growing may be traditionally a man's world, but champion grower Bill Wilthew has had to swallow his pride after coming second in the annual show - to his wife.

However, the disappointment was tempered by the family's clean sweep in the show, for the second year.

Cement worker Mr Wilthew and his wife, Sheila, were the toast of the competition last year when they scored a treble success, winning all three top prizes in their village leek show.

This year, they have achieved the feat again at the 25th show to be held at Frosterley Village Hall in Weardale, County Durham, at the weekend.But this time it was Mrs Wilthew who achieved first place with a pair of leeks measuring 217.79 cubic inches.

In second place was son Robert, also a cement worker, with leeks measuring 181.26 cubic inches, and third was father Bill with leeks at 153.80 cubic inches.

"It's about time somebody put the men in their place," said Mrs Wilthew, who was celebrating her first win at a leek show.

"I'm over the moon. It's particularly nice to win the 25th show to be held here in the village."

Mr and Mrs Wilthew have been members of the village leek club since it started.

Mrs Wilthew, who picked up a trophy, two cut-glass whisky glasses and a cash prize for her success, beat off opposition from 30 other entries in the show.

But Robert confessed to "being more than a bit peeved" at his mother's success.

"I have won the show for the last two years, and if I had come first this year, I would have been able to keep the trophy permanently."

He said: "We never thought we would be able to repeat last year's success, although the places have been changed this year.

"But neither dad nor I begrudge mum her victory.

"We all have our own patches in a poly tunnel, but as dad and I are both at work, it's mum that does a lot of the donkey work, like watering the leeks, so she really deserves her win."

Bill said: "We haven't any real recipe for success. We have just got the right breed of leek and we make sure they are properly fed and watered.

"Then it's only a matter of giving them a lot of loving tender care," he added.